Peter Haley, a photographer for the Tacoma News Tribune who lives in Seattle’s Madrona neighborhood, writes:
I’ve been a P-I home subscriber for years. Suddenly, after the P-I‘s announcement of likely closing, on some mornings I’ve been finding a copy of the Seattle Times instead of the P-I on my porch.
It happened twice a couple of weeks ago, and again today.
Since this has almost never happened before, I’m guessing that it’s a deception done on purpose to show me the Seattle Times and get me used to receiving it.
And when I called circulation about a missed paper this morning, the clerk took the info, said, “We’ll get a P-I to you by [such-and-such a time]… oh… (small pause) knowing the status of the P-I…” and I then said “no thanks” and ended the call.
So she apparently has been instructed to lure P-I subscribers before the P-I is gone.
The irony is that I WILL take the Times when the P-I is gone. I just don’t like such deception.
The above e-mail from Haley came yesterday afternoon, and he’s promised to send me a photo of an unwanted Times on his doorstep if it happens again. Meanwhile: Anyone else having this experience? If so, e-mail me.
can’t find any news?
this is the most unimportant post ever put on Slog
it the guy who sent you the tip, cut or uncut?
get some damn news
in my neighborhood, we usually get stray copies of the Wall Street Journal on our doorsteps.
Fremont’s like that.
I didn’t experience the P-I/Times switcheroo, but I used to be a Friday-Sunday Times subscriber, and at least once a week I would get a paper on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. It’s just a marketing ploy, to show you what you might be missing on the days that you don’t subscribe.
What I am curious about is Comcast – we subscribe to the basic package (just local channels + HD), but suddenly this month we have everything for no added cost. Is it a temporary marketing thing to get me hooked and pay for more channels? Did they upgrade the packages? I don’t want to call Comcast, in case it’s just a mistake and we’re getting Rachel Maddow, Anderson Cooper and that terrible trainwreck RuPaul drag competition reality show for free (Schmader should Live Slog that thing – it’s horrible, yet I can’t stop watching it).
Agree with 1 — this is less interesting than what the gorilla at the zoo ate last night. I know everyone is probably sick of reading/writing about the economy, but….
@3 – You might want to consider contacting them, lest you get hit with a bill later to pay for the services you used but weren’t being charged for.
And, why can’t Verizon get FiOS into Seattle?! It’s all around me, I can taste it, but I can’t have it for myself :.(
What’s going to happen is the Times is going to switch over all P-I subscribers to Times delivery, same rate, no cancellation (not part of your agreement with the P-I, so they can do this) and have you opt out instead of having a trial period.
Basically, you’re going to become a Times subscriber.
Unless you cancel.
@3,
I agree with #5. Comcast once tried to saddle me with their magazine, at a cost of $5/month. I didn’t ask for it and they definitely would have charged me for it if I hadn’t called to cancel it right away.
The Times and PI and Wall Street Journal are all delivered by the same carriers. If you’re not ragingly paranoid, you could see this as an honest mistake.
@9
…and The New York Times.
when the PI is done, i’m done. no $ for blethens.
Sorry to exceptionally bright carriers, but I don’t think they’re smart enough to carry out a marketing ploy like the one suggested.
I’m a daily subscriber to the P-I. Haven’t had any service hiccups.
After the P-I is gone, I will take NO newspaper. I sure don’t want the Seattle Times polluting up my doorstep. So, I’ll read it online and get the New York Times delivered on Sundays.